Ancient India in a New Light

8/10/2019 Ancient India in a New Light

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IndiaStar Review of Books

ANCIENT INDIA IN A NEW LIGHT

-- four books --

In Search of the Cradle of Civilization

b Geor! "euesrstein# Sub$as$ %ak# &David "raw'eW$eaton# I''inois( )uest Books# *++,

.* /a!es 01.2+, Te'e( *-345-66,-4*1

The Myth of the Aryan Invasion of India

b David "raw'eNew De'$i( 7oi8e of India# *++,



91 : *5 Ansari Road# New De'$i# **4441;

The Politics of History: Aryan InvasionTheory and the Subversion of Scholarship.

b Navaratna Ra<ara=New De'$i( 7oi8e of India# *++,91 : *5 Ansari Road# New De'$i# **4441;

Return of the Aryans

b B$a!wan S2 Gidwani>en!uin-India# *++. 9a'so >en!uin-Canada;

+. /a!e



Reviewed b C2 ?2 S2 Wa''ia

W$en I first $eard about Gidwani@s assertioin Return of the Aryans t$at t$e B'a8k Sea an

Ger=an @s B'a8k "orest were na=ed in=e=or of dark-skinned Ar ans fro= India#t$ou!$t $is su!!estion /re/osterous2 Now#after readin! t$e above four books# t$esu!!ested ori!in of t$ese na=es be!ins to

a//ear in t$e rea'= of t$e /'ausib'e2

T$e standard te tbooks on India@s ear'$istor # written b Euro8entri8 $istorians#$ave re8ent' been 8$a''en!ed b /ost8o'onia$istorians2 Severa' new books uestion =anof t$e standard assertions b /resentin!8onvin8in! eviden8e -- 'in!uisti8# 'iterar #ar8$aeo'o!i8a'# !eo'o!i8a' 9in8'udin! re8ent



Indo-"ren8$ sate''ite /$oto!ra/$ ;# andastrono=i8a'2 T$e /ost8o'onia'ists 8a'' for at$orou!$ rewrite of t$e erroneous $istorte tbooks used in s8$oo's and 8o''e!eswor'dwide# in8'udin!# sad' # t$ose in India2

T$ere never was an Ar an invasion of

India# nor an Ar an - Dravidian war2 Tter= Ar a =eant !ood# referrin! to ua'itof be$avior# not ra8e2 Likewise das ureferred to =is8ondu8t# not anot$er ra8e2

Ri !eda was 8o=/osed not in *144 B2C2 it

was 8o=/'eted in 344 B2C2 T$e 8rad'e of8ivi'i ation is not Su=eria in Feso/ota=ia#but t$e Sa/ta Sind$u# t$e 'and of seven riverin nort$west India2 "ro= t$e dense'/o/u'ated Sa/ta Sind$u# Sanskrit-s/eakin!/eo/'e =i!rated to Iran# Gree8e# and furt$erWest2

Co==entin! on Ra<ara= and "raw'e #



>rofessor %'aus %'oster=aier of t$eniversit of Fanitoba# writes(

T$e fa8ts referred to in t$is work arein8ontrovertib'e2 T$e 8on8'usionsdrawn $ave a $i!$ de!ree of/'ausibi'it 2 Conse uent' # t$e

i=/'i8ations are not$in! 'ess t$ansensationa'2222Ra<ara= and "raw'e aretrue /ioneers b'a in! new trai's2

And so is Sub$as$ %ak# Sanskrit s8$o'ar an8o=/uter s8ientist# 8o-aut$or of In Search othe Cradle of Civilization" w$o $as ana' edt$e astrono=i8a' 8ode of t$e Ri !eda. Drawin! on %ak@s work and ot$er eviden8e#Ra<ara= $as estab'is$ed t$e /eriod .444- 3B2C2 for t$e 8o=/osition of t$e Ri !eda.

T$e standard te tbooks on ear' Indian$istor are an e a=/'e of t$e ada!e t$at$istor books are written to ref'e8t t$e views



of t$e 8on ueror2 In t$e 'ate ei!$teent$8entur # w$en =an Sanskrit 8'assi8s# werefirst trans'ated into 8onte=/orar Euro/ean'an!ua!es# t$e drew !reat ad=iration fro=Euro/e@s =a<or inte''e8tua' 'u=inaries 'ike7o'taire# Goet$e# and He!e'2 "or e a=/'e#G2W2 "2 He!e' wrote t$at India was t$estartin!-/oint for t$e w$o'e Western wor'd2Later# in t$e nineteent$ 8entur # t$e sa=eHe!e' dis=issed t$e Puranas 8$rono'o!ies asfabri8ations and !enera'' dis/ara!ed India$istor 2 W$ t$is reversa' Nineteent$ 8entuEuro/ean i=/eria'is= distorted Euro/ean/er8e/tions and brou!$t fort$ ra8ist attitudeT$e 8o'oni ed /eo/'e and t$eir 8u'ture 8a=eto be seen as inferior2 He!e'@s reversa'e e=/'ifies t$is 8$an!ed /er8e/tion2



However# ei!$teent$- and nineteent$-8enturEuro/ean $istorians $ad to 8ontend wit$ a/u 'in! /$i'o'o!i8a' fa8t( t$e 8'assi8a'

'an!ua!e of India# Sanskrit# and t$e 8'assi8a''an!ua!es of Euro/e# Greek and Latin# were8'ose' re'ated2 In t$e words of Wi''ia= ?oneone of t$e ear'iest to =ake a s ste=ati8 studof t$is rese=b'an8e# 222 a stron!er affinit

t$an 8ou'd /ossib' $ave been /rodu8ed ba88ident so stron!# indeed# t$at no /$i'o'o!e8ou'd e a=ine t$e= a'' t$ree# wit$out firstbe'ievin! t$e= to $ave s/run! fro= so=e



8o==on sour8e222T$e Sanskrit 'an!ua!e is ofwonderfu' stru8ture# =ore /erfe8t t$an t$eGreek# =ore 8o/ious t$an t$e Latin and =ore uisite' refined t$an eit$er2 An e a=/'et$e rese=b'an8e( t$e word for ten is das$a inSanskrit# deka in Greek# and de8e= in Latin2T$ousands of Sanskrit words su8$ as pitahbrahta" ra#a $ave 8o!nates in near' a''Euro/ean 'an!ua!es2 Based on t$e undeniab'rese=b'an8e of t$ese 'an!ua!es# /$i'o'o!istster=ed t$e= Indo-Euro/ean 'an!ua!es2

To deto if ourse'f fro= t$e no iousEuro8entri8 notions in<e8ted b t$e

standard $istor te tbooks on India@s8u'tura' $erita!e# /eruse t$ese

'and=ark books as soon as /ossib'eJ



To a88ount for t$e 8o==on ori!in of Indo-Euro/ean 'an!ua!es# severa' nineteent$-8entur Euro/ean s8$o'ars $ /ot$esi ed t$ain an8ient ti=es an invasion of India fro=Euro/e# b a /eo/'e w$o s/oke t$e ori!ina'Indo-Euro/ean 'an!ua!e -- an Ar aninvasion--=ust $ave o88urred2 In t /i8a'Euro8entri8 arro!an8e# t$e assu=ed# wit$oan eviden8e# t$at t$e Ar ans 8a=e fro=outside India2 >rin8i/a' a=on! t$ese

s8$o'ars were Fa Fu''er and Fonier-Wi''ia=s# bot$ 8o==itted to deni!ratin!India@s 8u'tura' $erita!e in order to /ersuadIndians to 8onvert to C$ristianit 2

In a 'etter to $is wife# Fa Fu''er wrote(

T$is edition of =ine and t$e trans'ation oft$e !eda wi'' $ereafter te'' to a !reat e tent222t$e fate of India# and on t$e !rowt$ of =i''ioof sou's in t$at 8ountr 2 It is t$e root of t$eir



re'i!ion# and to s$ow t$e= w$at t$e root is# Ifee' sure# t$e on' wa of u/rootin! a'' t$at$as s/run! fro= it durin! t$e 'ast 444

ears2 Fu''er@s /ur/ose was to u/rootHinduis=2 Fonier-Wi''ia=s# in a s/ee8$ !iveat K ford to t$e Fissionar Con!ress on 1Fa *533# said( W$en t$e wa''s of t$e=i!$t fortress of Bra$=inis= are en8ir8'ed#under=ined# and fina'' stor=ed b t$eso'diers of t$e Cross# t$e vi8tor ofC$ristianit =ust be si!na' and 8o=/'ete2So=e ob<e8tive s8$o'ars# t$eseJ

In /i8kin! a date for t$e su//osed Ar aninvasion of India b a su//osed ra8e of /eo/Ra<ara= writes( Fu''er was stron!'inf'uen8ed b a 8urrent C$ristian be'ief t$at

t$e 8reation of t$e wor'd $ad taken /'a8e at+(44 a2=2 on 1 K8tober .44. BC2 Assu=in!t$e date of .44. BC for t$e 8reation of t$ewor'd# as Fu''er did# 'eads to 1..5 BC for t$



bib'i8a' "'ood2 If anot$er t$ousand ears isa''owed for t$e waters to subside and for t$esoi' to !et dr enou!$ for t$e Ar ans to be!it$eir invasion of India# we are 'eft at around*.44 BC2 Addin! anot$er two $undred earsbefore t$e 8ou'd be!in 8o=/osin! t$e Ri!eda brin!s us ri!$t to Fu''er@s date of*1442BC222$e used a !$ost stor fro=So=adeva@s $athasaritasa ara to su//ort t$idate2 So=e $istori8a' resear8$# t$isJ

Reader# to deto if ourse'f fro= t$e no iouEuro8entri8 notions in<e8ted b t$e

standard $istor te tbooks on India@s8u'tura' $erita!e# /eruse t$ese two 'and=arbooks as soon as /ossib'eJ

David "raw'e # aut$or of =an books onSanskrit 'iterature# in8'udin! %ods" Sa es"

$in s: !edic Secrets of Ancient Civilization"su=ari es $is views on 7edi8 $istor # so8iet #



and !eo!ra/$ in The Myth of the Aryan Invasion 2 Referrin! to t$e fa=ous Batt'e oft$e Ten %in!s in t$e Ri !eda" 344 B2C2#"raw'e writes( T$e 7edi8 war is a uestionof va'ues# not ra8e2 It is a 8onf'i8t betweens/iritua' va'ues and =ateria'isti8 va'ues#w$i8$ o88urs in a'' so8ieties2 So=eti=es ar/eo/'e be8o=e un- arya b a 8$an!e in va'uesas indi8ated in t$e batt'e of Sudas2222Evenna=es of fa=ous 7edi8 kin!s# su8$ as Sudasand Devadasa $ave t$e endin! of das or dasa=eanin! @servant@2 Sudas ru'ed t$e 'and ofSa/ta Sind$u# 8entered around t$e =i!$tSarasvati river# w$i8$ f'owed fro= t$eHi=a'a as to t$e Rann of %ut8$2 After t$eBatt'e of t$e Ten %in!s# =an Indians=i!rated westwards into Iran and be ond2

"raw'e observes t$at Fa Fu''er# wit$ $is$idden C$ristian a!enda# se'e8tive' 'ifted=eta/$ori8a' /assa!es fro= t$e Ri !eda



buttress $is Ar an invasion fro= Euro/et$eor 2 Taken in its entiret t$e 'iterareviden8e s$ows t$e 7edi8 8ivi'i ation as anindi!enous deve'o/=ent2

In arti8'es /ub'is$ed in various <ourna'sNavaratna Ra<ara=# aut$or of The Politics

History /resents a 8$rono'o!i8a' s nt$esis ofan8ient Indian 8ivi'i ation2 Kne of t$e =ostinterestin! se8tions of $is work is on t$e

Sulbasutras" 444 BC2#-- =at$e=ati8a'=anua's for t$e desi!n and 8onstru8tion of7edi8 a'tars2 Ra<ara= notes t$at A2Seidenber!# an A=eri8an $istorian of s8ien8ein $is /a/er entit'ed Kri!in of Fat$e=ati8s/ub'is$ed in t$e <ourna' Archive for History

&'act Sciences" *+35# estab'is$ed t$e

Sulbasutras as t$e basis for t$e =at$e=ati8sE! /t# Bab 'onia# and Gree8e2 T$is /rovides=at$e=ati8a'' ri!orous foundation for t$ederivation of t$e 8$rono'o! /resented in t$i



book2

T$e /rin8i/a' aut$or of t$e Sulbasutras" Baud$a ana# a Sout$ Indian# dis8overed t$t$eore= of > t$a!oras so=e two t$ousand

ears before > t$a!oras2 His work was knowin E! /t222 as ear' as 1344 BC2 He is t$e firsknown of t$e wor'd@s =at$e=ati8ians2 T$ist$e 8ivi'i ation t$at invented =at$e=ati8s2

Ra<ara= /ro/oses a 8$rono'o! of an8ientIndian 8ivi'i ation as be!innin! before t$ear8$aeo'o!i8a' eviden8e of t$e Fe$r!ar$ sitein t$e nort$west# 8ir8a 6,44 BC# t$e ear'iestand 'ar!est urban site of t$e /eriod in t$ewor'd2 T$is site $as ie'ded eviden8e for t$eear'iest do=esti8ation of ani=a's# evo'ution o

a!ri8u'ture# as we'' as arts and 8rafts2 T$e$orse was first do=esti8ated $ere in 6,44 BCFe$r!ar$# Hara//a and Fo$en<odaro are/eri/$era' 8ities of t$e !reat Sarasvati



8ivi'i ation wit$ =ore t$an ,44 sites a'on! itsbanks awaitin! e 8avation2 In .,44 BC#Fand$atr defeated t$e /eo/'e of Dru$ us#drivin! t$e= to t$e west into Iran2 .444- 34BC was t$e Ri! 7eda /eriod2 In 3 4 BCo88urred t$e Batt'e of Ten %in!s-- t$e a!e ofSudas and $is sa!e advisors# 7asis$t$a and7isva=itra2 644 to *44 BC was t$e 'ate7edi8 a!e durin! w$i8$ a<ur# Sa=a# andAt$arva 7edas were 8o=/osed2 *44 BC is tdate of t$e Fa$ab$arata# 8o=/osed b 7 asAt t$is ti=e# t$e Sarasvati river 'ost a=unabe8ause of a te8toni8 /'ate s$ift2 It was t$ebe!innin! of %a'i u!a2 444 BC was t$e 'atBra$=ani8 /eriod durin! w$i8$ ear' Sutrawere 8o=/osed2 In *+44 BC# anot$er te8toni/'ate s$ift =ade Sarasvati 'ose Sut'e<2 T$is

dried u/ Sarasvati# 8ausin! =assive e odus o/eo/'e to t$e east -- t$e Gan!a va''e # w$en8arose t$e 8'assi8a' 8ivi'i ation of India2



Wit$ =ore t$an ,4 =a/s and i''ustrations# Search of the Cradle of Civilization is a8o=/re$ensive book2 T$e book@s <a8ket uotDee/ak C$o/ra( T$is is a s8$o'ar'=aster/ie8e and be'on!s in t$e $o=e and'ibrar of ever /erson w$o wis$es to evo'veusin! t$e wisdo= of t$e a!es2 Kne of its besse8tions is on t$e re'ation between t$e Indus-Sarasvati and t$e Bra$=i s8ri/ts( bana' in! statisti8a' 8o=/uter-8on8ordan8es#Sub$as$ %ak $as s$own t$at t$e =ostfre uent 'etters of t$e Indus-Sarasvati and tBra$=i s8ri/ts 'ook a'=ost identi8a' and s$aa rat$er si=i'ar fre uen8 of o88urren8e2%ak a'so found t$at t$e te ts on t$e steatitesea's fo''ow !ra==ati8a' ru'es 'ike t$at ofSanskrit2 A't$ou!$ de8i/$erin! of t$e s8ri/

re=ains to be done# $e su!!ests t$at t$eBra$=i is derived fro= Indus-Sarasvati2



Anot$er e 8e''ent se8tion of t$is book is T$Dravidian >u 'e ( t$e aut$ors note t$at

w$i'e s8$o'ars $ave identified so=e twentDravidian @'oan words@ in t$e Ri !eda" t$Dravidian 'an!ua!es $ave @borrowed@ at 'easfift /er8ent of t$eir vo8abu'ar fro= 9Ar aSanskrit2 Foreover# =an Dravidians8$o'ars 8redit t$e 8reation of Ta=i'# t$eo'dest Dravidian ton!ue# to A!asta a# w$ofi!ures in t$e Ri !eda as one of t$e /ro=inesa!es of $is era2 T$e Dravidian kin!s$istori8a'' $ave 8a''ed t$e=se'ves Ar ans a$ave tra8ed t$eir des8ent t$rou!$Fanu2222nort$ern and sout$ern India s$are a8o==on 8u'ture and re'i!ion222 God S$iva8'ear' is s non =ous wit$ t$e 7edi8 GodRudra2 T$ere was no Ar an invasion# no

Dravidian invasion# no Ar an-Dravidian waSanskrit $as been s$own to in8'ude e'e=entsof Funda# t$e 'an!ua!e of t$e triba's2 A''t$ree 'an!ua!e !rou/s are indi!enous



deve'o/=ents2

B$a!wan S2 Gidwani@s Return of the Aryans"9>en!uin-India# a'so distributed b >en!uin-Canada; a re8ent' /ub'is$ed +. -/a!e nove'is a $i!$' readab'e a88ount of t$e Sa/taSind$u 8u'ture around ,*44 BC as we'' as t$=i!ration of t$e Ar ans fro= India to t$eWest2 It is a =onu=enta' work wit$ a 8ast oft$ousands--a=on! t$e= t$e $ero of = t$i8birt$# Sind$u >utra# t$e /$ si8ian-sa!eD$anwantar and $is wife D$anwantarti2

In $is introdu8tion# t$e aut$or sa s# t$isnove' wi'' !ive a =osai8 of a 'on!-for!otten/ast to s$ow t$at t$e Ar ans did not be'on! ta different s/e8ies# 8u'ture or ra8e2 T$eir

8rad'e-!rounds were t$e Sind$u# Gan!a andDravidian 8ivi'i ations and t$ere is anunbroken 8ontinuit --s/iritua'# so8ia' andse8u'ar--between t$e /re-an8ient 8ivi'i ations



of B$arat 7ars$a and t$e Ar ans of ,444BC2222 T$e Ar ans w$o 'eft B$arat 7ars$awere not warriors or 8on uerors# not =en of!enius or =adness t$e were not adventureor so'diers of fortune and 8ertain' # t$e wenot re'i!ious ea'ots# fanati8s or 8rusaders2T$ese trave''ers si=/' $ad a drea= t$at 'edt$e= on towards t$e @unrea8$ab'e !oa' offindin! a 'and t$at was /ure and free fro=evi'--and it was a road t$at 'ed ever w$ere bfina'' now$ere@ and at 'ast t$e 8a=e torea'i e t$at t$ere was no 'and of /ure# e 8e/tw$at a =an =i!$t =ake of $is own efforts2

T$is /rodi!ious' resear8$ed $istori8a' nove'/resents a ski''fu' e /osition of t$e ori!in ofwritin!# of =at$e=ati8s# and te8$no'o!

9a!ri8u'ture# =eta''ur! # boat-bui'din!#wea/onr ; in /re-an8ient India2 >arti8u'ar'en!a!in! are t$e 8$a/ters on t$e Ar ans@

<ourne fro= India to Feso/ota=ia# E! /t#



Anato'ia# Ger=an # and fut$er west2 T$eaut$or !ives nu=erous e a=/'es of rivers an/'a8es na=ed in Sanskrit 'an!ua!e( Hari rivand Hari rat$ 9Herat;# in Af!$anistan# Dana9Danube; river in Euro/e2 T$e B'a8k Sea# new$ere t$e 8a=/ed for a 'on! ti=e and bui'tboats# and Ger=an @s B'a8k "orest are na=in =e=or of t$e dark-skinned Ar ans fro=India2

In *++6# >en!uin 9Canada; issued a /ressre'ease t$at t$is nove' $ad won t$e FostKutstandin! Book of t$e ear award fro=t$e $istori8a' division of t$e resear8$ andreferen8e 8enter2

I re8o==end t$ese four books to an one

interested in India@s 8u'tura' $erita!e2

Documents

Ancient India in a New Light